Srinagar, Aug. 16 -- On the morning of Independence Day, the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir stood once again at Bakshi Stadium. Eleven years ago, he had addressed the gathering as the elected head of a state. Today, he spoke as the Chief Minister of a Union Territory.

This time, there was no talk of development, progress, or celebration. Instead, he opened with an announcement: a signature campaign.

"For the next eight weeks," he declared, "we will travel across all 90 constituencies. We will go to every village and every mohalla. We will ask for one thing-the restoration of statehood."

The campaign, he stressed, was not about power or position. "If we fail, I will accept that. But I believe the people want their state back. We wi...